The filing deadline on Wednesday saw a flurry of activity as candidates jockeyed to see who would run for different offices in Lake and Geauga counties.

Eyes focused on Sarah LaTourette to see if she would file to run for Ohio House of Representatives District 76.

The Bainbridge Township Republican, who is the daughter of former U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette, filed with the Geauga County Elections Board in Chardon less than two hours before the 4 p.m. deadline. It prompted a small chain reaction. Apparently, no Republicans wanted to challenge her.

With about 20 minutes to go before the deadline, state Rep. Matt Lynch, also a Bainbridge Township Republican, filed with the Lake County Elections Board in Painesville to run for Congress rather than run for re-election and trigger a primary against Sarah LaTourette.

Lynch’s decision then forced a Republican primary against incumbent U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce, R-Russell Township.

Rumors were that Walter “Skip” Claypool was going to run for the state representative seat if Sarah LaTourette didn’t run.

After she filed, Claypool filed to run for the Geauga County commissioner Jan. 1 term to trigger a GOP primary against incumbent Commissioner Mary Samide.

You’ll remember back in 2012 when Geauga County Commissioner Bill Young retired and the county GOP appointed Claypool as commissioner until the November election.

At that same time, the party appointed Samide, rather than Claypool, to be the party’s nominee for that election to fill the unexpired term, which she won.

It didn’t take long for the Joyce vs. Lynch Republican congressional primary race to get started as verbal fireworks quickly emerged.

Joyce’s campaign manager Kevin Benacci issued a statement Wednesday after the filing deadline bringing up Lynch’s late property tax payment in 2012 and attacked him for voting against the state budget last year.

Lynch posted a press release on his website Thursday calling Joyce a “liberal Republican” and “selling out conservatives more than any other Republican congressman in Ohio.”

Probably the person most pleased by this development would be Moreland Hills Democrat Michael Wager, who is unopposed in a Democratic primary for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District.

Perhaps with a GOP primary, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee takes a greater interest in the November race?

Sad note

I was heartbroken to learn that Deborah Setliff died this week after a long illness.

Setliff was the press secretary to former congressman LaTourette and previously worked stints as a reporter and columnist for the Cleveland Plain Dealer and as a reporter for The News-Herald.

I didn’t work with her during her newspaper career, but I spent a lot of time talking with her on my beat when she worked for the congressman.

Setliff had a quick wit about her and sometimes her comments would just make me laugh out loud, but she was serious about work.

If ever there was a mistake, you could be assured that she would be on the phone that morning to let you know.

I’m not alone when I say she definitely will be missed.

Arrangements are being handled by the Stroud-Lawrence Funeral Home, and her obituary can be found here: http://bit.ly/1eFxVGi.

Event

Geauga County Democratic Party hosts Spaghetti Dinner Served with Hot Top doors open at 5:30 Feb. 20 at party headquarters in Newbury Township. Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica will discuss the Geauga County Opiate Task Force and what families need to know about the influx of heroin and opiates.

Fundies

• Fundraiser for Wager hosted by former Gov. Ted Strickland, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Fire Food and Drink in Shaker Heights. See Ashton Narzisi.
• Dick Shreve, candidate for Lake County commissioner, hosts a fundraiser 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Willoughby Brewing Company. See Shreve.
• Lisa Klammer, candidate for Lake County Probate Court judge, hosts a fundraiser, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at LaMalfa Party Center in Mentor. See Randy Klammer.
• Lake County Commissioner Daniel P. Troy hosts Mardi Gras Party on Fat Tuesday, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. March 4 at LaMalfa Party Center. See Kip Molenaar.

John Arthur Hutchison
JHutchison@News-Herald.com
Twitter: @newsheraldjah

It took nine rounds and three hours of voting, but Geauga County Republicans finally selected Commissioner Mary Samide to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot as the party’s candidate to fill former Commissioner Bill Young’s term.

Samide eventually got the nod Tuesday night by one vote against Skip Claypool.

That came after candidates Jim Flaiz, Jim McConnell and Mark Porter eventually dropped out. Even then, some members won’t budge on their votes, much to the dismay of party leaders.

No candidate could get 25 votes by secret ballot even when it came down to just Claypool and Samide, as some members refused to vote for either.

Chairman Ed Ryder finally called for a roll call vote that gave Samide the victory.

Claypool didn’t come away empty-handed, though, as he was later that night appointed to serve as commissioner until after the election because Young’s retirement was effective June 30 and the position was vacant.

Meanwhile, Geauga County Democrats on Monday night nominated Jim Dvorak as their candidate for the race to fill the term that expires Dec. 31, 2014. So it will be Dvorak vs. Samide in that race for the unexpired term.

The vote that led to Samide’s Nov. 6 nomination brought to a head a division within the Geauga County GOP.

Some within the party wanted to see a change in the county commissioners’ office and they did not want to give Samide another opportunity. After all, Samide who sought re-election to a four-year term, was defeated in the March 6 GOP primary by Ralph Spidalieri.

I’m wondering how this all might translate in November. Geauga County Democrats likely view recent developments as an enhanced opportunity to capture a seat (or two?) on the Board of Commissioners.

Will Samide now get support from those who wanted her out of office? Perhaps some registered Republicans will choose not to cast a ballot in that race or even, gasp, vote for a Democrat?

The timing of Young’s retirement also means all three commissioner seats will be on the Nov. 6 ballot as Commissioner Tracy Jemison faces Democrat Fred Welty; Spidalieri faces Democrat Christopher John Lacny.

Are the winds of change blowing in Geauga County?

Candidate forum

The Lake County TEA Party will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Harvey High School Auditorium in Painesville to conduct a forum for Ohio Senate District 18 and Lake County recorder candidates.

Meet-n-greets

Susan McGuinness, candidate for Ohio House of Representatives District 61, hosts a summer BBQ at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Perry Township Park.

State Rep. Casey Kozlowski, R-Pierpont Township, who represents the Ohio House of Representatives 99th District that next year will include portions of Geauga County, will meet with residents from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. July 26 at the Chardon Library.

Fundies

n Geauga County Sheriff Daniel McClelland hosts 2012 Rib Dinner, 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Troy Community House in Troy Township. See Craig Richter.

n Fundraiser for Nancy McArthur, candidate for Ohio Senate District 32, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at Southington Hunt Club, 10321 Silica Sand Rd., Garrettsville. See Jeannine Soltis.

n State Rep. Ron Young hosts a fundraiser with special guest Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Bill Batchelder from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 23 at Young’s home in Leroy Township. See Young.

n Lake County Commissioner Robert E. Aufuldish hosts ninth annual Ferrante Winery Celebration, 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 1 at Ferrante Winery & Ristorante, Harpersfield Township. See Ernie Koenig or Kathie Aufuldish-Freshour.

n Wine tasting event honoring Judge Mary Jane Trapp, 11th District Court of Appeals Court, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 1 at St. Joseph Vineyard, Madison Township. See Mike Apicella.

n David Fiebig, candidate for Lake County commissioner, backyard barbeque, 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at home of David and Pauli Bokor in Concord Township. See Joyce Hribar Fiebig or John Plecnik.

John Arthur Hutchison

JHutchison@News-Herald.com

Twitter: @newsheraldjah